This month’s edition of the Floral Pulse will literally take you around the world! That’s what’s so great about our business — every single growing region is uniquely gifted in its own right with the perfect product for our customers. And be sure to read about the upcoming trade shows: PMA, Proflora, SAF and TPIE, plus many other important events around the world! Do you need one complete resource of all industry trade shows throughout the year? Well, you’ve come... Read more

In many regions of North America, the landscape silently explodes with vibrant colors of red, yellow, and orange. For weeks, summer has slowly been slipping away. There are so many reasons to love fall. The weather is changing, leaves are turning colors, and it tends to give off a sense of anticipation for things to come. School starts, and the holidays are just around the corner. This year, the first day of fall will take place on Monday, September 23, for those... Read more

FNGLA is excited to announce big news! After the Tropical Plant International Expo in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 22-24, 2020, TPIE will be moving from the east side to the west side of the Sunshine State.  TPIE’s backdrop for 2021 and 2022 will be the vibrant redeveloped waterfront and urban cool offerings of Tampa Bay, FL, as the show moves to the Tampa Convention Center. “No matter where TPIE takes place, it will continue to be the best industry trade event... Read more

Flowers. I thought I knew all there was to know about them. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Some make me sneeze. They can be arranged together or alone, and people buy them for apologies, decoration, well-wishes, romance, congratulations or no reason at all. However, there’s a lot more to flowers than an occasion, a few hometown florists, or a store-bought bouquet. AFE opened my eyes to this, and the entire floral industry. Shanley KingMy name... Read more

From Sept. 18 to 20, Ornamental Plants & Flowers MÉXICO, powered by IPM ESSEN will take place for the first time in the Centro Citi Banamex in Mexico City. The initial program highlights of the new foreign offshoot of the world’s leading fair for horticulture have been finalized: Seven top-class international florists (including the floral design great Gregor Lersch from Germany) will pass their knowledge on to the trade public in high-quality workshops. Furthermore,... Read more

Hundreds of floral industry professionals and dozens of expert speakers are coming together for SAF Amelia Island 2019, the Society of American Florists’ 135th annual convention, Sept. 18-21 in Florida. The event features a packed agenda of educational sessions and networking events along with beloved industry traditions, including the Outstanding Varieties Competition, Supplier Expo, the 51st annual Sylvia Cup Design Competition, New Products Showcase and more. Misha... Read more

Vibrant colors. Unusual shapes. Longer vase lives. Enhanced fragrance. Greater resistance to pests and diseases. ‘Crop innovation holds great promise for the future of floriculture, and farmers recognize how these advancements not only improve farm profitability but also hold benefits for the entire supply chain and its customers,’ wrote the Society of American Florists in a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service... Read more

Years ago, David Letterman started the top 10 countdown list and this funny commentary was shared on the Tonight Show. The list could be the top 10 flowers, top 10 crazy comments heard in the grocery store, or top 10 funny street signs, and the audience waited with rapt attention to hear No.1. Over the years I have been asked similar questions by clients and in seminars related to employees in business. Here are five of the most common questions... 5. My employee... Read more

Just two months after having successfully concluded the second of HortEx Vietnam, the organizers are already focusing on the 3rd edition which will take place from February 26-28, 2020 at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City. The last edition of HortEx Vietnam doubled in size and noted a 81 percent increase in exhibitors. HortEx Vietnam 2019 welcomed some 200 exhibitors from 28 countries worldwide. Within the 3 days of the exhibition,... Read more

Maxine and Bob Burton were honored to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Georgia 4-H Foundation. The Burtons’ ties to 4-H date back to their childhoods. Growing up, Maxine was involved in 4-H in Forsyth County and participated in camps at Rock Eagle, Wahsega, and Tybee Island. Bob was a Master Gwinnett County 4-Her, active in judging events and competitions, attended summer camp at Rock Eagle, and was a counselor at Rock Eagle and Tybee Island Summer... Read more

SEPTEMBER 2019 Sept. 4-7 GardenComm Annual Conference and Expo Sheraton Salt Lake City  Salt Lake City, UT More Information: https:// gardencomm.org/ Sept. 6-8 North Dakota Floral Asso ciation-Convention Ramada Inn Bismarck, ND More Information: http:// www.ndsfa.com/ Sept. 10-12 FlorExpo Moscow IEC “Crocus Expo Moscow, Russia More Information: https:// www.flowers-expo.ru/en/v /index.html Sept. 16-18 HortiFlor Expo HICC Harare Zimbabwe More... Read more

Trends say that floral arrangements are changing, and some of those changes have to do with the greater presence of foliage and greens in bouquets. Monochromatic and minimalist arrangements had gone out of fashion since consumers today are looking for bouquet and arrangements that have floral abundance and take risks in terms of colors. Therefore, foliage and greens are taking center stage in the world. Regarding this trend,... Read more

I’m writing this column at midnight and can’t help but feel extremely blessed to be in this industry. Yes, even at midnight and after only four hours of sleep! This month in particular, I’ve been barraged with information about all of the trade shows coming up. I know what you’re thinking… “trade shows aren’t new.” But this year, as I’m receiving information and writing about these amazing events, I am absolutely astonished at the quality programs being offered.... Read more

If you haven’t seen the results from the 2016-2017 Floral Purchase Tracking Study conducted by the American Floral Endowment in partnership with the Society of American Florists, you may be missing some important opportunities to reach consumers! The study is packed full of significant data regarding the actual purchases of flower-buying consumers. The study reveals details such as types of flowers purchased, amount spent, for whom and what occasions,... Read more

“Grandchildren are a grandparent’s link to the future. Grandparents are the child’s link to the past.” Grandparents’ Day is celebrated the first Sunday after Labor Day in the United States. National Grandparents’ Day gives us a chance to affirm the importance of grandparents, and their vital role in families. It’s also a day of sharing hopes, dreams, values and setting an example for future generations. Grandparents’ Day is celebrated the first Sunday after Labor... Read more

Each year, color giants like Behr and Sherwin-Williams release their top picks. From powerful aqua to soft terracotta, 2019 is all about bringing pops of color into your favorite designs with jewel-toned accents. Expect the 2019 holiday season to lean towards nature with grainy, frosty and bark-like textures. Envision design elements such as candleholders, coniferous wreaths, twigs, and hanging decorations in the shape of animals and fir cones. Key color schemes... Read more

When it comes to gardening, it seems that Spring gets all the positive PR and Fall is known as the “Grim Reaper” of the planting season-the time of year when the beauty of Spring and Summer begins to fade before the white blanket of snow arrives. Spring is known for “planting new life” while Fall is known as the “harvest” — bringing everything in. But nothing is further from the truth! Indeed, the beauty of the Fall harvest theme is an important one, but bushel-baskets... Read more

Jackie Lacey AIFD, CFD of the Floriology Institute in Jacksonville, FL was installed as the president of the prestigious American Institute of Floral Designers during the organization’s acclaimed 2019 National Symposium held in Las Vegas, NV, July 6–11.  He succeeds Frank Feysa AIFD, CFD of Garden Gate in Aurora, Ohio as the volunteer leader of the floral industry’s leading organization in design education. Jackie Lacey AIFD,... Read more

David L. Pruitt, a horticulture consultant and former flower farmer, has been named the interim CEO and ambassador of the California Cut Flower Commission by the organization’s board of commissioners. Pruitt, a past chair and one of the founders of CCFC, will take the helm on July 15.  Dave Pruitt is welcomed as the interim CEO and ambassador by June Van Wingerden, Chair of the CCFC Board.For the past five years, Pruitt has represented International... Read more

What have you done lately to improve your supply chain? It’s easy to think that our competitors look like us and act like us. But today, nothing is further from the truth! As our eyes gaze down the block assessing the new florist or supermarket in the neighborhood, a new supply chain gorilla is creeping up behind us... a supply chain gorilla that’s also good at selling products! Yes... good at selling OUR products and every other product: the clothes you wear, the... Read more